Vote Virtue
Jubilee Centre September 9th, 2008
Three political parties are most likely going to contest Zambia’s presidential by-election in the next three months. The three people 
who will be fielded are Mr. Michael Sata-PF, Mr. Hikainde Hichilema-UNPD and the Acting President, Rupiah Banda-MMD. Who of these three is articulating things that matter most to believers in Christ Jesus? Christian voters ought not to focus so much on parties’ platforms, on agenda set by culture (including hero worship), media and academic elites, but on things that matter to God. The following are some of the issues that matter to us.
Which of these leaders most meets the Biblical requirements for leadership? The term mostly used for leader in the Bible is servant. Which of these leaders meet the Biblical definition of a servant as captured in Mark 10:42-43
? Political leadership is about serving people. Which of three leaders can we say has genuine concern for welfare of the Zambian people? How has it been demonstrated? When one aspires to the greatest office in the country, we have the right to look at his record and check whether his life has been full of service.
The second question we must ask is, “Which of these leaders has a better vision to liberate and empower 
our impoverished Zambian majority to get equitable return for their labour?” Zambia is in dire need of a leader who is a friend of globalization but who also is able to find ways to spread the benefits of our natural resources to Zambians living in poverty. The hour has come for a leader that empowers society to equip the hard working Zambian - turning him from slavery to reclaim his life. The Exodus shows us God’s compassion and his desire for the physical, spiritual, political and economic freedom for all people (Exodus 3:7-8).
The third question must relate to family. Do these leaders value the importance of family in the 
development of our nation? As Christians we are aware that when Adam sinned his sin did not only interfere with his wife, but murder entered the human race, so did polygamy. All this happened because one family was dysfunctional. Which of these leaders would you and your children look up to as a godly family man?
This presidential by-election gives Christians an opportunity to become agents of cultural change by mobilizing themselves and ensuring that the agenda for the campaign include the following:
- God fearing leadership.
- Economic and social justice.
- Strong family values
Lawrence Temfwe
